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KARIPPAL NAGAM Karippal Nagam is an important Serpant Temple in North Kerala. It is situated in a small village named Karippal in Taliparamba Taluk, Kannur District. The place can be accessed via Bus either from Taliparamba (20Kms) or from Payyannur (27 kms), the nearest town. History:- Serpant or Snake worship was an important ritual in the ancient Dravidian Culture in our country and especially in Kerala. In the North Kerala snake worship was a special feature of Nair Tharavads. There were Sarpakkavu (Snake Park) attached to almost all Nair Tharavads. Karippal Nagam is owned and governed by Karippal Kallampally Tharavad (A joint family named Karippal Tharavad) from time immemorial. It is situated near to their Someswari Temple. This Nagam was covered with forest and trees of various kind and people normally afraid to tread on the land. Though this area is vastly cleared, the serenity is still kept after many decades. It is believed that the presiding deity of this temple, Nagaraja and NageniAmma after wandering many places in North Kerala, pleased with the reverence of the “Nayarachan’s (senior member) piety and accepted his invitation to be the well wisher snake god of his Tharavad. He found a golden snake at the place of this Nagam, and after the advice of the astrologer decided to make an abode to the snake god named Karippal Nagam and worshiped annually hereafter. Rituals:- In the Karippal Nagam there are two serpant gods are worshipped namely Nagaraja and Nageni Amma. The festival falls on Ayilyam Star of Dhanu (as per Malayalam Calender) which will be during the last week of December to the second week of January every year. The Karanavar (senior member) of Karippal Tharavad offer Palum Noorum (Milk &Calcium) during 3 days starting from Ayilyam at nights to the snakes. During the night the Nagaraja and Nageni Amma Theyyams will also be performed by the traditional artists of Vannan caste. This festival is very famous and thousands of devotees in and around Kerala State throng the shrine to get the “Anugrahas” of these Serpant Gods. It is believed that the childless married ladies conceive after drinking tender coconut drinks offered by Nageni Amma during the Ayilyam festival. Many families testify this miracle of the Snake Gods of Karippal Nagam. Because of this wonderful result, thousands of devotees not only from Kerala but also from other States Karnataka visit during the festival season. Sarpabali:- It is offering of devotees to the Karippal Nagam. The Sarpabali Vazhipad can be had from the nearby Someshwari Temple compound after remittiing the cost of Sarpabali. This Prasadam is the main food of the devotees and they can have it at the Temple premises. There are many other form of offerings also there in connection with the festival. These are some sort of metals made to resemble the snake eggs, snakes etc which can be offered on payments. All the devotees visiting the Karippal Nagam are given food by family festival committee and all are returning from Karippal after propitiating the Snake Gods and fully satisfied in their pilgrimage to this ancient temple.

KARIPPAL THARAVAD

Karippal Tharavad is one of the most famous Nair Tharavads of in Kannur District of Northern Kerala. Its glory reached far and wide owing to the blessing from their family controlled serpant worshiped Karippal Nagam. Hundreds of years ago their family had declined its prestine privilege and glory and nobody was to succeede the future generation due the curse of the serpent gods. One Karanavar of that decade adopted a lady from the Pothera Tharavad of the  neighboring village and the descendants of the woman are now came into existence and spread everywhere all over Karippal and rest of Kerala.Beside the Karippal Nagam they worship in the Tharavad Temple called the Someshwari Temple surrounded by other Deities such as Krishna Chamundi, Moothedath Bhagavathy, and Karippal Bhagavathy.Another important and inseparable part is Karippal Tharavad Kalari. In olden days, the Kalari was a premier place for imparting martial arts and early education to the members. The youths who got necessary training from the Kalari, were the soldiers to look after the Tharavad and its members from enemy attack. In course of time its importance declined and decayed. A new Kalari was constructed near the old one installed the spirits of late Karanvars. All the members in the Karippal Tharavad worship here as a part and parcel of their bygone culture.Karippal Tharavad members adoped and followed a Matrilineal System of inheritance called Marumakkathyam which was mostly followed by all castes in Malabar Area. In this system all the families lived together, worked and pooled their resources for the common welfare of the joint family. Naturally Karippal Tharvad also outgrown and they could not pull on together and divided into Thavazhis. The Thavazhis are (1)Karippal Kallampally (Kizhakke Veedu), (2) Karippal Kallampally( Kalari Veedu), (3)Karippal Puthiya Veedu, (4) Aryath Karippal Kallampally, Karippal Athikka Puthiya Veedu, Karippal Padinhare Veedu. The decedants of all the above Thavazhis spread and lived in the neighboring villages. Still the members unite at the time of festivals of Someshwari Temple, Ayilyam festival of Karippal Nagam and important functions of Karippal Tharavad Kalari. A Trust has been formed for the unification of the Karippal Tharavad members living across different parts of the State, and to help the needy members, look afterand to conduct the Tharavad Temple, Nagam yearly festivals and finally to keep the prestine culture. The renovation work of the Someshwari Temple is progressing with the financial assistance of Karippal Tharavad members and other well wishers who believe in God for its early accomplishment. Those who wish to contribute their mite for its ongoing projects may contact the President or Secretary in person or by post. (PO.Karippal, Via. Chapparapadave, Kannur- 670581-Kerala)